We asked our designers to share some of their “secret tips” with you!

Lisa Kisch

I often trim 12×12 cardstock to 8½x11 to put it through my printer. I always save the trimmed bits to print smaller journaling or hybrid elements that don’t require a full page. I keep my white cardstock scraps right on top of my printer so that I always use them up. You’d be amazed how many layouts I’ve used this tip on!

As for products, I’m using right now, I love American Crafts cardstock and my I-Top!

Davinie Fiero

Currently, my favourite thing is to use 6×6 paper pads for my layouts. The prints are small in scale and there are multiple coordinating prints to choose from, which makes for a colourful project. They are also great for cards!

With that in mind, I love the new 6×6 pads from Studio Calico, especially the Memoir Line.

Sheri Reguly

I didn’t have any empty scrapbook albums for the longest time. I simply kept piling my pages up, one on top of the other. When I did finally get around to purchasing some, I discovered that my layouts didn’t fit nicely within the page protectors.

Lately, my layouts have become so much more dimensional than they were in the past. I find that I’m layering embellishments more, using adhesive foam like crazy, and I simply adore all the fancy trims that are so popular right now.

I’ve gotten in the habit of trimming anywhere from 1/4″ to 1/2″ off of the right-hand side of my background cardstock or patterned papers, before even starting my pages. By doing so, it creates a little bit of extra space and allows my completed pages to fit nicely within page protectors without any buckling.

Vicki Boutin

When stamping, place a mouse pad under the material being stamped to help ensure a perfect impression. It works great every time!
Before I cut a piece out of a set of rub-ons, I staple the sheet to the protective backing. This prevents the rub-ons from shifting or becoming damaged.

Sarah Hodgkinson

Hang onto old Cricut mats which still have a bit of “stick” to them. They are handy for keeping dies from shifting when passing them through a die cutting machine. It also helps keep the paper you are cutting from shifting, which allows you to use smaller scraps for your die cutting.

Core’dinations’ new Kraft-Core cardstock is great for embossing, sanding, tearing and printing on if you sand off the colour first and print onto the kraft core.

Kimber McGray

Right now, I am all about the label stickers. Well, I have been since Jenni Bowlin and a few other companies, including My Mind’s Eye and Jillibean Soup, have come out with their collections. They are small enough to use on cards and they provide a great place to journal or add a date to a layout or mini album.

Becky Fleck

When using letter stickers, I like to build my title on a piece of waxed paper first so I can see how it will fit on my page. The transparent quality of the waxed paper allows me to move the completed title around. When I am happy with the placement, then I simply peel the letters off the waxed paper.

My favourite go-to product is American Crafts Knock Out punches.

Summer Fullerton

Lately, my go-to element on almost all of my pages is flags. I make them from stamps, stickers, fabric, and paper. I have a huge stash of floral stick pins from the fabric store. Floral stick pins are longer than the traditional ones. I usually attach my flags to the stick pins using my Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher.

Kathy Thompson

My favourite thing to do this time of year is watching the light. The days are getting shorter and the sunsets are getting more intense! If you can schedule your shoots for just before dusk on a beautiful day this time of year, you will be guaranteed some amazing light to play with, but be carefulthe days are getting shorter very quickly, so dusk last week won’t be at the same time next week!

My favourite go-to product is, coincidentally, those 12×12 page protectors with 4×6 spaces, by American Crafts, because I can keep my photos in with my scrapbook pages.